Deck structure



I. JUDD DECK STRUCTURE July 12, 1938.

Original Filed April 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR IRVI 5 H.JUDD Mym ATTORNEYS wom y 12, 1933- l. H. JUDD 2,123,630

DECK STRUCTURE Original Filed April 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORIRVING H.JUDD BY ATTORN s July 12, 1938.

' I. H. JUDD DECK ,smucwum' Original Filed April 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet3 m m m IRVING H.Juop Y Mwz ATTORNEYS Patented Julylz, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE neon s'mncrnnn Irving n. Judd, Deal-born, Mich.,assignor t6 Whitehead & Kalos Company, River Rouge, Mich, a corporationof Michigan 1 Original application April 27, 1936, Serial No. 16,715.Divided and this application August 9, 1937, Serial No. 158,219

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to motor vehicle transports of thedouble deck type and refers more particularly to the upper deckstructure, and constitutes a division of my application filed April 27,1936, bearing Serial No. 76,715.

. One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide atransport of this type wherein provision is made for counterbalancing ahinged portion of the upper deck so that said portion may be easilyraised and lowered by hand.

Another object is to provide a structure that is comparatively simple inconstruction and that can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of thisinvention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a transportembodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view thereof; Figure 3 is a rear endelevation thereof; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantiallyonthe line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper track showingthe hump passing over the arch member, and also the anchorage means;

. Figure 6 is an elevation of the hinged portion of the upper trackshowing the counterbalancing mechanism therefor;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the gusset plates between angularportions of the track sections; Y

Figure 8 is a detail view of the engagement between the movable archmember and post.

My improved transport is in the form of a trailer which is drawn by amotor truck and pro-.

vides storage space thereon for a lower and upper tierof cars. The baseof the structure is formed by lowerside sill members, the centralportions l of which are dropped as low as possible with the requisiteroad clearance. The forward portions 2 of these sills are raised toclear the front platform, and are connected to the lower portions bycurved portions 3. At the rear, the sill members 4 are curved upward andthen downward to clear the supporting wheels, and in rear of thesemembers are sill members 5 which extend to the rear end of the frame.The portions I of the side sills are cross-connected by cross-sills 6,l, 8 and 9.

The forward portions 2 are connected to each other by an arcuate frontportion l0, and the rear end portions 5 are cross-connected by a memberII. There are also diagonal crux-members I2 alternatively. reversed inangularity to hold the side and cross-sills in rigid relation to eachother.

Rising from these side sills are arch members l3, I4, 15 and I6 whichinclude vertical post portlons and transversely extending carlineportions, the latter supportingthe upper tier load. These arch membersare preferably formed of tubing of rectangular cross-section as thisfacilitates attachment to. adjacent members and also has a greaterstrength per weight ratio than round section tubing. The post portionsof these arch members are reinforced on their outer sides byplatemembers l1, these being of greater width to extend on opposite sides ofthe posts and are preferably secured thereto by welding. To these platemembers are attached sheeting plates l8, the upper edges of which form asubstantially straight line, while the lower edges are fashioned toconform to the'shape of the sill members. The members above describedwhich are rigidly secured to each other, preferably byriveting,-together form a truss of which the sheeting l8 forms the webmember.

The load in the lower tier is carried by track members which also servefor guiding the vehicles during loading and unloading.

The load in the upper tier is supported upon track members 21 which aremainly supported by the carline portions of the arches l3, l4, l5 andHi. In order, however, to provide adequate clearance for the lower tierwithout unduly raising the upper tier the carline portions of the archesI4 and I5 extend above the tread portion of these track members 21 so asto form no obstruction therebeneath. The upper portion of the archmember I3 is also inclined forwardly, as shown at I3 so as to avoidinterference with the windshield of the car directly therebeneath. The

. portion 28 of the track 21 which is in rear of the rear end of thishinge section is a tubular crossmember 29 which also is provided at itsopposite ends with. downwardly tapering projections 30 which entersockets 30 in the upper ends of posts 3| and form a coupling therewith.Thus, when the hinge section 29 is swung upward it will leaveunobstructed space for the movement of the lower tier of cars over-thetracks 22, 28 and 2| into storage position. I

To facilitate the raising and lowering of the hinged section II, I haveprovided a' counterbalancing mechanism of the following construction. 32are link members normally extending parallel to and above the, rub railsII and pivotally attached at their forward ends to brackets as extendingupward from said rails. The rear ends of the members 32 are pivotallyconnected to lugs 34 extending forward from the lower ends of the archmembers ll. II are springs anchored at their forward ends to the archmemward on its hinge Il and the opposite sides of this arch membertogether with the links 32 will form in'eifect toggle levers which inrising approach alignment with each other. 'Ihus, while the tension ofthe springs ll is diminished during the upward swinging movement, itwill, nevertheless, be suiflcient in connection with these toggle leversto hold the section II in raised posi-' tion.

The upper track members 21 and II are further fashioned so as to dropthe cars supported thereon as low as possible. This is accomplished byproviding a downwardly inclined portion 38 at the forward end of theportion 21 terminating in a further depressed portion 3. at the forwardend of the frame. The portion 3! is adapted to support the rear wheelsof a car when reversely arranged on the tracks, and upwardly curvedportions or chocks lll hold the wheels from rolling oil the front end.The hinged sections 28 of the tracks have their rear ends depressed, asindicated at ll, to receive therear wheels of a car which is forwardlyfacing on the tracks. As has been stated, the arches II and II havetheir carline portions extending above the tread portions of the track,and to permit of moving the wheels of the cars thereover, double inclinemembers 42 are provided. These constitute humps over which the wheels ofthe cars will ride without danger of disengagement from the tracks.

As the transport is sometimes used for carrying vehicles provided withdual wheels, the upper tracks are so formed as to prevent interferencewith such wheels. Thus, as shown, these upper track members are of across-section including a treadportion 43, an upwardly extending flange44 on the inner side of the track terminating in a laterally extendingflange I and a downwardly extending flange 48 on the outer edge of thetrack terminating in a downwardly extending returnbent flange 41. Theinner upwardly extending flanges 44 form guides for holding the vehicleon the track, while the outer edge of the track is unobstructed and willpermit dual wheels to project thereover. These upper track members aresecured in .position on the arch members by angle brackets ll, oneflange of each of which is secured to the .carline portions and theother to the underside of the tread portion 43 of the tracks. At theirforward ends the track members are secured to an arcuate member llcorresponding to and above the member I. being amaeso supported thereonat opposite ends by posts ll securedto said member and braced by gussetplates II. This leaves the front end of the transport unobstructed sothat the forward car in the lower tier can project slightly beyond theforward end of the transport as previously described.-

The several track sections are formed preferably by bending from sheetmetal blanks, and where there is a change in direction longitudinally,the upper and lower flanges 44 and I. are severed and gusset plates iiare welded thereto to flll the gap.

With the construction as thus far described,

to load the support the hinged track section's-Ilare raised in themanner before described and are supported in this position by thesprings II and toggle links I and 32. A suitable skid is then placed inrear of the transport with its forward end connected to the rear end of,the track section II. The first car for the lower tier is then drivenforwardly onto the tracks and to the forward end of the frame where thefront wheels rise onto the upwardly stepped portion. In this position,the radiator of the car will be just in rear of the depressed portion IIin the upper tracks and the windshield will be slightly in rear of theforwardly inclined arch. The second car for the lower tier is backedonto the tracks and, when in position will have its rear wheelssupported on the depressed portion 24 of said tracks and its frontwheels upon the portion 22 in rear of the supported wheels for thetransport. After this car is in podtion, the hinged track section II isagain lowered and in so doing the toggle link 32 will swing the upperportion of the arch memberback into position where the taperingprojections I6 will enter the sockets It. At the same time, theprojections III at the rear end will enter the sockets on the rear postii. The upper tier cars are then driven on through the medium of asuitable skid, the forward car being backed upon the tracks with itsrear wheels rest upon the forward depressed portions 3!, being held fromfurther movement by the checks 40. The rear upper tier car is driven onforwardlyand its rear wheels rest upon the depressed rear portion ll ofthe tracks. The cars are anchored in their several positionspreferably 1. In a motor vehicle transport, a' frame pro- I vidingstorage space therewithin for a lower tier of cars and having tracks onthe top thereof for supporting an upper tier of cars, rear portions ofsaid tracks being hinged at their forward ends to permit of swingingupward for clearance in loading and unloading the lower tier of cars, anarch member for supporting the hinged portions of said tracksintermediate the ends thereof, said arch member being hinged to saidtracks to permit of folding, means cooperating with said arch member.during the folding thereof compelling the raising of said hingedportions of the tracks, and resilient means acting on said arch memberin a direction to fold the same and counterbalancing the weight of saidhinged portions of said tracks.

2. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame providing storage spacetherewithin for a lower tier of cars and having tracks onthe top thereoffor supporting an upper tier of cars, rear portions of said tracks beinghinged at their forward ends to permit of swinging upward for clearancein loading and unloading the lower tier cars, an arch member forsupporting the hinged portions of said tracks intermediate theendsthereof and being hinged to said tracks, links connected to the sideportions of said arch memberand forming in connection therewith togglelevers anchored to a stationary portion of the frame, and resilienttension means connected to said toggle levers acting to straighten thesame and to thereby form a counterbalance for said hinged portions ofsaid tracks.

3. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame including a series of arches,said frame providing therewithin storage space for a lower tier of cars,tracks mounted on said arches for supporting an upper tier of cars, therear portions of said tracks being hinged at their forward ends to oneof said arch members and supported intermediate their ends on anotherarch member, the sides of said latter arch member being formed inseparable upper and lower sections having a tongue and socket engagementwith each other and the upper section being hinged to said hingedportions of said tracks, links connected to the lower end of said uppersection and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to a stationaryportion of said frame, said links forming in connection with the upperportion of said arch member toggle levers, and tension springs acting tostraighten said toggle levers and to thereby form a counterbalance forthe hinged portions of the tracks dur- 49 ing the raising and loweringof *the same.

4. In a transport of the class described, a box-like frame having ahinged top section provided with depending hinged uprights, andcounter-balancing mechanism for said hinged top section including linkmembers pivotally connected to opposite sides of said frame and to saidhinged uprights, and springs connected to opposite sides of said frameand to the hinged uprights of' said hinged top section.

5. In a transport of the class described, a boxlike frame having ahinged top section provided with depending hinged, uprights, andcounterbalancing mechanism for said hinged top section including linkmembers pivotally connected at their forward ends to opposite sides ofsaid frame and at their rear ends to said hinged uprights adjacent theirlower ends, and springs connected at their forward ends to oppositesides of said frame in vertically spaced relation to the forwardconnections of the link members with the frame and adjustably connectedat their rear ends to the hinged uprights of said hinged top sectionadjacentthe rear connections of the link members with the uprights. 1

6. In a transport of the class described, a

frame having fixed longitudinal and upright members and having a hingedtop section provided with depending hinged members, and counterbalancingmechanism for said hinged top section including link members pivotallyconnected to said longitudinal members and to said depending hingedmembers, and springs connected to said upright members and to thedepending hinged members of said hinged section.

7. In a transport of the class described, a frame having fixedlongitudinal and upright members and having a hinged top sectionprovided with hinged supporting means, and counterbalancing mechanismfor said hinged top section including link members pivotally connectedat one end to said longitudinal members and at the other end to saidhinged supporting means adjacent said link members.

8. In a transport of the class described, a frame having a hinged topsection, hinged supporting means for said hinged top section, meanscooperating with said hinged supporting means to facilitate the raisingof said hinged top section, and resilient means carried by said frameacting on said hinged supporting means to forma counterbalance for saidhinged section.

9. In a transport of the class described, a frame having fixedlongitudinal and upright members and having a hinged top section, hingedsupporting means for said hinged top section, and counterbalancingmechanism for said hinged top section including non-flexible meansterminally connected to said longitudinal members and to said hingedsupporting means, and flexible means terminally connected to saidupright members and to said hinged supporting means.

10. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame providing storage spacetherewlthin for a lower tier of cars and having a track for supportingan upper tier of cars, a rear portion of said track being hinged, at itsforward end to permit of swinging upward for clearance in loading andunloading the lower tier of cars, a hinged member for supporting thehinged portion of said track, means cooperating with said hinged membercompelling the raising of the hinged portion of said track. andresilient means acting on said hinged memher and counterbalancing theweight of the hinged portion of said track.

11. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame providing storage spacetherewithin for a lower tier of cars and having a track for supportingan upper tier of cars, a rear portion of said track being hinged at itsforward end to permit of swinging upward for clearance in loading andunloading the lower tier of cars, a hinged member for supporting thehinged portion of said track, a link connected to the hinged member andforming in connection therewith a toggle lever anchored to a stationaryportion of the frame, and resilient tension means connected to saidtoggle lever acting to straighten the same and to thereby form acounterbalance for the hinged portion of said track.

IRVING H. JUDD.

